Can't Wait for The Simple Wild

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

The Simple Wild: A Novel

By: KA Tucker

Expected Publication: August 7th 2018 by Atria Books

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--City girl Calla Fletcher attempts to reconnect with her estranged father, and unwittingly finds herself torn between her desire to return to the bustle of Toronto and a budding relationship with a rugged Alaskan pilot in this masterful new romance from acclaimed author K.A. Tucker.

Calla Fletcher was two when her mother took her and fled the Alaskan wild, unable to handle the isolation of the extreme, rural lifestyle, leaving behind Calla’s father, Wren Fletcher, in the process. Calla never looked back, and at twenty-six, a busy life in Toronto is all she knows. But when her father reaches out to inform her that his days are numbered, Calla knows that it’s time to make the long trip back to the remote frontier town where she was born.

She braves the roaming wildlife, the odd daylight hours, the exorbitant prices, and even the occasional—dear God—outhouse, all for the chance to connect with her father: a man who, despite his many faults, she can’t help but care for. While she struggles to adjust to this new subarctic environment, Jonah—the quiet, brooding, and proud Alaskan pilot who keeps her father’s charter plane company operational—can’t imagine calling anywhere else home. And he’s clearly waiting with one hand on the throttle to fly this city girl back to where she belongs, convinced that she’s too pampered to handle the wild.

Jonah is probably right, but Calla is determined to prove him wrong. As time passes, she unexpectedly finds herself forming a bond with the burly pilot. As his undercurrent of disapproval dwindles, it’s replaced by friendship—or perhaps something deeper? But Calla is not in Alaska to stay and Jonah will never leave. It would be foolish of her to kindle a romance, to take the same path her parents tried—and failed at—years ago.

It’s a simple truth that turns out to be not so simple after all.

Love KA Tucker. Looking forward to this one! What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

DNF Review - Ice Wolves

Ice Wolves (Elementals, # 1)

By: Amie Kaufman

Published: March 27th 2018 by HarperCollins

326 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Everyone in Vallen knows that ice wolves and scorch dragons are sworn enemies who live deeply separate lives.

So when twelve-year-old orphan Anders takes one elemental form and his twin sister, Rayna, takes another, he has to question whether they are even related. Still, whether or not they’re family, Anders knows that Rayna is his best and only true friend. She’s nothing like the brutal, cruel dragons who claimed her as one of their own and stole her away.

To learn what he needs to rescue her, Anders will have to enlist at the foreboding Ulfar Academy, a school for young wolves that values loyalty to the pack above all else. But for Anders, loyalty is more complicated than blind obedience, and friendship is the most powerful shape-shifting force of all.

I have to admit that I am not normally a fan of middle grade books. Yet I decided to give this one a try because I've enjoyed Amie Kaufman before and because...well dragons of course.

I made it to 37% and my overwhelming feeling was that of forcing myself to pick this book up and read. This is more a statement about where I am in my life right now than the book itself. I have never had less time to read than now and so more than ever I want to be reading books that I'm really enjoying and not ones that require me to force myself to continue.

Ice Wolves is narrated by 12 year old Anders who has always felt a little in his sister's shadow. Not that he was jealous of her but just that she was better at most things than him. She took the lead and really took care of him. So he is quite unsure of himself. I know Anders starts the book in such a lowly state so we can see him grow as a character but I struggle with weak characters.

The setup of events to come feels a bit predictable also. I mean certainly I've been surprised in times past when things felt predictable and then some twist came in that threw me off what I'd been expecting. This is possible. However, the vibe I was getting was one that didn't exactly have me excited about continuing the find out what was going to happen to see whether I was right in my predictions or not.

Ice Wolves wasn't a bad read at the point I decided to DNF it. More than anything, I just felt an obligation to continue reading because this was a review book rather than a desire to continue based upon the story and characters. This is likely my own fault as my real life situation leaves me so little time to read that I probably shouldn't have requested a middle grade read when those don't typically appeal to me. I can see myself potentially returning to Ice Wolves at a different time in my life--perhaps even when my children are at the middle grade reading level. Have you read Ice Wolves? What did you think? Let me know!

2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge - March Wrap Up

Time for our third Monthly Wrap Up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Since the February Wrap Up, neither Sandy nor Holly finished any series enders.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the March giveaway runs from March 25th - April 25th. On April 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a winner.

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 3/25/18

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Baby Boy cut TWO teeth this week. One on Sunday and the other on Tuesday. Wednesday Husband came home early so we could go get the tag and title for the new car. This is the biggest book haul in one week I've had in quite a while. I'm a little nervous because my time to read has been so extremely limited. But I am genuinely excited about each of these books. I just hope I keep my enthusiasm until I get around to reading each of them.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of Without Merit by Colleen Hoover (3.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for All the Little Lights by Jamie McGuire

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: DNF Review of Ice Wolves (Elementals, # 1) by Amie Kaufman
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

All the Little Lights

By: Jamie McGuire

Expected Publication: May 29th 2018 by Montlake Romance

pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire comes a riveting tale of first love that starts young but runs deep.

The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.

Elliott finally returns, but he and Catherine are now different people. He’s a star high school athlete, and she spends all her free time working at her mother’s mysterious bed-and-breakfast. Catherine hasn’t forgiven Elliott for abandoning her, but he’s determined to win back her friendship…and her heart.

Just when Catherine is ready to fully trust Elliott, he becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy. Despite the town’s growing suspicions, Catherine clings to her love for Elliott. But a devastating secret that Catherine has buried could destroy whatever chance of happiness they have left.

Sons of Blackbird Mountain (Blackbird Mountain, # 1)

By: Joanne Bischof

Expected Publication: July 3rd 2018 by Thomas Nelson

352 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--When Aven Norgaard leaves Norway to serve as housekeeper to her late husband’s cousins in Appalachia, she expects lads in need of care, not three grown men—each in need of a wife and bound by a powerful brotherhood. As the men carve out a living by brewing artisan liquor, young Haakon’s pursuit tempts Aven’s lonely spirit . . . but it is his deaf brother, Thor, whose silent strength shows her the depths of real love.

Unable to speak to any woman, Thor Norgaard never anticipates Aven will befriend him, let alone treat him as her safe harbor. Though hard cider is their livelihood and his greatest talent, he fights his way to sobriety with Haakon’s help, defying the bottle for Aven’s hand—only to face a battle of the heart that tests even the strongest bonds of brotherhood.

100 Days of Thanks

By: Thomas Nelson

Expected Publication: July 24th 2018 by Thomas Nelson

160 pages

Genre: Christian, Devotional

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Focus on the things that bring you joy with 100 Days of Thanks. Short inspirational readings, space to record your thoughts, and brief Scripture references in a high-designed four-color gift book will help you find a peaceful, happier life.

The rush of a busy schedule, a barrage of disheartening news stories, and the wear and tear of everyday life can be enough to drag anyone down. Simply pausing to recognize and express thanks for the good gifts that surround you has proven to make a major difference in happiness, peace, and contentment.

100 Days of Thanks, a beautifully designed inspirational book of short readings, Scripture verses, and journaling space is the perfect tool to promote Christian mindfulness and gratitude. Whether you are looking for a thoughtful gift to encourage a loved one or a simple tool to create a habit of thankfulness, this lovely little book is a wonderful place to start.

Take a few moments out of your day to be grateful and feel your burdens get a little lighter, starting today.

The Weaver's Daughter

By: Sarah E Ladd

Expected Publication: April 10th 2018 by Thomas Nelson

320 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Romance

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Kate's loyalties bind her to the past. Henry's loyalties compel him to strive for a better future. In a landscape torn between tradition and vision, can two souls find the strength to overcome their preconceptions?

Loyalty has been at the heart of the Dearborne family for as long as Kate can remember, but a war is brewing in their small village, one that has the power to rip families asunder --including her own. As misguided actions are brought to light, she learns how deep her father's pride and bitterness run, and she begins to wonder if her loyalty is well-placed.

Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton fortune, returns home from three years at war seeking refuge from his haunting memories. Determined to bury the past, he embraces his grandfather's goals to modernize his family's wool mill, regardless of the grumblings from the local weavers. When tragedy strikes shortly after his arrival, Henry must sort truth from suspicion if he is to protect his family's livelihood and legacy.

Henry has been warned about the Dearborne family. Kate, too, has been advised to stay far away from the Stocktons, but chance meetings continue to bring her to Henry's side, blurring the jagged lines between loyalty, justice, and truth. Kate ultimately finds herself with the powerful decision that will forever affect her village's future. As unlikely adversaries, Henry and Kate must come together to find a way to create peace for their families, and their village, and their souls - even if it means risking their hearts in the process.

One Small Thing

By: Erin Watt

Expected Publication: June 26th 2018 by Harlequin Teen

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is… <>Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Can't Wait for All the Little Lights

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

All the Little Lights

By: Jamie McGuire

Expected Publication: May 29th 2018 by Montlake Romance

pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jamie McGuire comes a riveting tale of first love that starts young but runs deep.

The first time Elliott Youngblood spots Catherine Calhoun, he’s just a boy with a camera, and he’s never seen a sadder and more beautiful sight. Both Elliott and Catherine feel like outcasts, yet they find an easy friendship with each other. But when Catherine needs him most, Elliott is forced to leave town.

Elliott finally returns, but he and Catherine are now different people. He’s a star high school athlete, and she spends all her free time working at her mother’s mysterious bed-and-breakfast. Catherine hasn’t forgiven Elliott for abandoning her, but he’s determined to win back her friendship…and her heart.

Just when Catherine is ready to fully trust Elliott, he becomes the prime suspect in a local tragedy. Despite the town’s growing suspicions, Catherine clings to her love for Elliott. But a devastating secret that Catherine has buried could destroy whatever chance of happiness they have left.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Without Merit - Review

Without Merit

By: Colleen Hoover

Publication: October 3rd 2017 by Atria Books

384 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Not every mistake deserves a consequence. Sometimes the only thing it deserves is forgiveness.

The Voss family is anything but normal. They live in a repurposed church, newly baptized Dollar Voss. The once cancer-stricken mother lives in the basement, the father is married to the mother’s former nurse, the little half-brother isn’t allowed to do or eat anything fun, and the eldest siblings are irritatingly perfect. Then, there’s Merit.

Merit Voss collects trophies she hasn’t earned and secrets her family forces her to keep. While browsing the local antiques shop for her next trophy, she finds Sagan. His wit and unapologetic idealism disarm and spark renewed life into her—until she discovers that he’s completely unavailable. Merit retreats deeper into herself, watching her family from the sidelines when she learns a secret that no trophy in the world can fix.

Fed up with the lies, Merit decides to shatter the happy family illusion that she’s never been a part of before leaving them behind for good. When her escape plan fails, Merit is forced to deal with the staggering consequences of telling the truth and losing the one boy she loves.

I'm not really sure where I heard this, but I could have sworn that Colleen Hoover said Without Merit would be a lighter and younger novel than she's published in her last couple of books. But that was really not the case. Younger...yes. Lighter...not really. Only shortly before this book published did I even see an official description for it. And while the description does mention family secrets, there's no hint as to what those secrets may be. But boy are there many.

I don't know that Colleen Hoover can write a book that's simply a love story without having a good bit of drama and darker subjects woven into the story. Without Merit has all of the following: atheism, mental illness, depression, extra marital affairs, gay/bisexual characters, inappropriate sexual situations, suicide, and various other issues. Yet the biggest theme I'd say throughout the entire book is perspective. How we only see a version of the events that happen in someone else's life and we certainly don't know what others are thinking or feeling unless they share those things with us. And how we often assume things about how others think and feel based upon their actions and our own biases. While I was a little overwhelmed with the amount of dysfunction within Merit's family, I did enjoy the message about perspective.

Even though I can't say that I hated Merit as a character, I can't say that I loved her either. She's flawed for sure, regularly making assumptions about her family members based on partial information. She's definitely not my favorite of Colleen Hoover's leading females. But at the same time, she truly was one of the more likeable characters within this family for me.

Sagan was a saint. It was hard to see why he liked Merit, and actually at some point he actually doesn't like Merit that much. But he was involved in Merit's life and family in a way that goes beyond what the average person would do. Yet I liked him most because he inspired Merit to grow and become a better person.

A small annoyance for me was the character names. I felt like they were all a bit too unique to be believable. There's Barnaby, two Victorias, Merit, Honor, Utah, Sage, and Luck. I mean Victoria isn't too odd, but having two of them in addition to the other cast was slightly too much for me.

Because of my background, there were a few things that felt borderline for me. While I was annoyed at Merit's father for being an atheist, I appreciated this being a characteristic that didn't feel pushed upon the reader as he didn't even try to push the same on his children as well. I could easily feel like the characters were a little sacrilegious but Colleen Hoover actually kind of combats that in her writing preemptively. And then of course the gay and bisexual characters were slightly annoying because I'm beginning to feel like she includes this in every single book. Also, I really hate the "just get your virginity over with because there's too much hype" that seems to becoming more and more rampant among the younger generations.

Favorite quotes:

-But that was several years ago and my siblings and I have long since moved past the wrongs our father committed against our mother. Actually, we haven't. Not even slightly.

-I once read a quote that said, "Don't make your presence known. Make your absence felt."

-I also don't trust people who claim for a classic to be their favorite novel. I think they're lying just to sound educated, or they simply haven't read another book beyond high school English requirements.

-If he doesn't like the thought of getting caught, why does he do things he doesn't want people to find out?

-"Sometimes you get stuck with family members that do nothing but make mistakes they never have to apologize or pay for."

AMEN AMEN AMEN!!!!

-Maybe that's the root of a lot of family issues. It isn't actually the issues people are hung up about for so long. It's that no one has the courage to take the first step in talking about the issues.

-"It annoys me when people try to convince other people that their anger or stress isn't warranted if someone else in the world is worse off than them."

I believe I might have connected to Without Merit while reading it in large part due to the family conflict. Even though my extended family wasn't going through quite the same things as Merit's family (at the time I read this book), everyone can relate to family conflict and we were certainly going through it at the time I read this.

While I read this book within 24 hours and felt hooked and invested into the storyline and Merit and Sagan, looking back on the story, Without Merit might now take the place as my least favorite Colleen Hoover story. It wasn't bad, at all. It's just that the content and characters weren't my preference at all. Even though I connected to the characters having conflict within their family, most of the time I prefer to read as a form of escape and this almost added more stress to my life than help me to escape the stresses I was feeling in my own personal life. Without Merit gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Without Merit? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves - 3/18/18

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

This has been a good week. Husband was off work on Wednesday. It was nice to have him home. Little Girl certainly enjoyed him being home. Thursday we bought a new car. It was something that kind of fell into our laps and we'd been looking on the side for Husband as his car likely won't last much longer. I took the new car and he's taking my old one. We also got new cell phones this week. I always enjoy getting a new gadget, but there's always an adjustment period where it just isn't what you're used to. Saturday my grandmother was visiting so I took the kids to my mom's. Little Girl was in heaven because an older cousin was there for her to play with. Since she's not in daycare there just aren't a ton of opportunities yet for her to socialize with other kids her age. I finished a book and DNF'd another this week.

Side Note: I'm still accepting responses to my survey as well as entries in my blogoversary giveaway (ends 3/20/18).

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Different Blue by Amy Hamron (4.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles
Friday: Upon Further Review - PS I Like You by Kasie West

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of Without Merit by Colleen Hoover
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Crossing the Line

By: Simone Elkeles

Expected Publication: June 12th 2018 by HarperTeen

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A high-stakes story of star-crossed lovers from Simone Elkeles, the New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

To escape his abusive stepdad, bad boy Ryan Hess runs from his tiny Texas border town to Mexico. But his plans to keep his head down and stay out of trouble are shattered the minute he meets the beautiful and totally out of his league Dalila Sandoval.

Dalila Sandoval shouldn’t even know someone like Ryan Hess. The daughter of one of the wealthiest lawyers in Mexico, Dalila is focused on studying and planning for her bright future. Ryan is only a distraction from her dreams, but she’s never felt more alive than when she’s by his side.

Ryan and Dalila are wrong for each other in every way. And yet they can’t resist the sparks that fly when they’re together. But their love is like a flame burning too close to the fuse.

Something is going to explode. Will their love be strong enough to survive? Or will it burn them both?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Upon Further Review - PS I Like You

Upon Further Review is an original feature here at Somewhere Only We Know. I have always loved re-reading my favorite books, and I wanted a way to incorporate re-reading into my blog. Thus From the Ashes and Upon Further Review were born. From the Ashes is where I re-read a book that I have never reviewed before and finally review it. Upon Further Review is where I re-read a book that I've already reviewed and see if my original rating stands or not. This is also the time for me to discuss any new revelations that my latest re-read has brought to my attention.

PS I Like You

By: Kasie West

Publication: July 26th 2016 by Point

304 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

My original review of PS I Like You (which I realize I just published last month).

After reading PS I Like You the first time, I thought about re-reading it immediately. The reason for that is that you find out that not only did Lily find out who her pen pal was before she revealed herself to him, but he also figures out that she is who she is before revealing that to her. And so not only was this just a generally good and enjoyable book the first time through, but I was completely interested to see how said pen pal behaved once he figured out who Lily was and how that fit into everything that Lily was experiencing.

And even though I did thoroughly enjoy my second read through of PS I Like You almost as much as the first time. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't more written in to Pen-Pal's behavior after he discovered Lily's identity than there was. Of course, I picked up on a few things since I knew during this reading when he actually figured out who she was, but I wanted just a little bit more depth here. I feel like even though I enjoyed the book as much as I did the first time, that this was a little bit of a missed opportunity.

Another thing is that in a second read through, I'm even more interested in the love story than the first time. Since I'm already acquainted with the characters and their backstories I wanted to skip all of that and get to the good stuff which made the beginning feel a little longer to me than it did the first time. Overall, I still read this book for a second time within three days which is not too shabby at all for a first read or a second read.

The deciding factor for me to pick up and re-read PS I Like You was that I was in a bit of a reading slump at the time. I wasn't reading anything at all. And really wasn't even in the mood to read. So I finally decided to read something that I knew I would enjoy since I enjoyed it the first time. Ultimately, I do think a 4 Star rating for PS I Like You is a better rating than the 4.5 Stars that I initially gave it. It is still a really great book, but being caught up in finishing it late at night had me boosting the score just a smidgen more than I feel like it probably deserves. Still a completely solid read with all the feels. Have you read PS I Like You? What did you think? Let me know!

Can't Wait for Crossing the Line

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

Crossing the Line

By: Simone Elkeles

Expected Publication: June 12th 2018 by HarperTeen

352 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--A high-stakes story of star-crossed lovers from Simone Elkeles, the New York Times bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series

To escape his abusive stepdad, bad boy Ryan Hess runs from his tiny Texas border town to Mexico. But his plans to keep his head down and stay out of trouble are shattered the minute he meets the beautiful and totally out of his league Dalila Sandoval.

Dalila Sandoval shouldn’t even know someone like Ryan Hess. The daughter of one of the wealthiest lawyers in Mexico, Dalila is focused on studying and planning for her bright future. Ryan is only a distraction from her dreams, but she’s never felt more alive than when she’s by his side.

Ryan and Dalila are wrong for each other in every way. And yet they can’t resist the sparks that fly when they’re together. But their love is like a flame burning too close to the fuse.

Something is going to explode. Will their love be strong enough to survive? Or will it burn them both?

I've really enjoyed all of the books by Simone Elkeles that I've read so far. What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

A Different Blue - Review

A Different Blue

By: Amy Harmon

Published: March 29th 2013 by Createspace Independent Publishing

306 pages

Genre: Young Adult/New Adult, Contemporary

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible.

(This review was written in September 2017.)

I've been in a reading slump for a little while. This seems to be a theme for me during pregnancy. I believe that to be due to a lower tolerance to things that annoy me. I just happened to snag this Amy Harmon book as a freebie a while back. She's a new author to me this year, but I've read 3 books by her already. Two of these three books I rated 5 Stars. So I felt pretty confident that Amy Harmon would be a good choice for getting me out of this book slump.

I have to say that in the very beginning of A Different Blue I was struggling. Even at one point I wondered if I would end up liking the book at all or if it would just end up not being for me. Blue isn't in the best mental space and the majority of the book during this section switches between memories of Blue's past and growing up as well as history lessons from her very hot British teacher. I almost felt like I was back in school myself. And I'm not usually a fan of books that jump around chronologically. So this portion of A Different Blue was a struggle for me.

Once I got to the middle section of the book I was hooked. As a matter of fact, Amy Harmon had me straight bawling for a bit. I mean I'd like to say that the majority of these tears are due to pregnancy hormones, and that's likely true to an extent. But since becoming a mother, this section would have broken my heart pregnant or not.

The description pretty much tells you so this isn't a spoiler, but I was wondering how Amy Harmon would work a teacher/student relationship in such a way that the reader wouldn't take issue with the couple. Yet she pulled it off. For me at least. Wilson and Blue have such a slow building relationship. At first it's very student/teacher yet antagonistic. But Blue graduates early on in the book and their relationship moves more into the mentor direction until they slowly become friends and very, very slowly turn into more.

Amy Harmon has a way of weaving in some spiritual topics in way that doesn't make her books "Christian" or even feel as if she's trying to project a particular idea, belief, or theology onto the reader. I very much appreciate this. I can read her books without feeling like I'm being preached to yet I get a bit of the warm and fuzzies from these aspects.

Favorite quotes:

-"History is written according to what men believe, whether or not it's true."

-"What label do you want for yourself? How would you label yourself if the labels weren't based on what you thought of yourself but what you wanted for yourself?"

-"Someone told me once that to create true art you must be willing to bleed and let others watch."

-"When it's all said and done there are so many worthy causes, so much work to be done, so much good to do, but if we sacrifice everything for a cause, we tend to become a spokesperson instead of a lover, an organizer instead of a wife, a mouthpiece instead of a mother. I gave everything else away in the name of a greater good, but look how many people I hurt. Look at the ripple effects of thinking my life's work was more important than the people in my life."

I struggled with A Different Blue in the beginning. The middle tore my heart to shreds, and the ending was what I needed it to be. I did have a few questions that weren't answered, but nothing that involved the major pieces of the puzzle. Though I initially wondered if A Different Blue would end up being the one Amy Harmon book that I didn't enjoy, she pulled it off. A Different Blue gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Different Blue? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post - 3/11/18

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Baby Boy had his 4 month old check up on Monday. He's in the top 20% for height and average for weight. No teeth coming in just yet. It's funny how each baby is different. Little Girl had 4 teeth coming in at once by this age. Not much else happened during the week this week. Saturday I ran to the grocery store by myself just to pick up some things that are hard to explain to Husband that I needed. He's been doing the shopping for me since Baby Boy was born, but we've discussed letting me go on Saturdays alone while he keeps the kids. I AM DOWN FOR THAT. Thanks to everyone who has completely my survey so far. I'm still accepting responses if you haven't had a chance and would like to. I'll do a post when I've finished collecting responses with a summary of the results. No new books this week.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2) by Jennifer Delamere (3.5 Stars)
Tuesday: Reading and Blogging Preferences Survey
Wednesday: Can't Wait for All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover & Happy 7th Blogoversary Giveaway (Giveaways ends on 3/21/18)

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of A Different Blue by Amy Harmon
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday
Thursday: Upon Further Review - PS I Like You by Kasie West

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!

Happy 7th Blogoversary Giveaway

Man time flies. You guys, I have been blogging for 7 years! And while my blog hasn't grown to epic porportions, I am happy and proud of what all I have done and accomplished. And for now, Somewhere Only We Know is exacty where I want it to be with the amount of time I'm able to dedicate to it. And so for that we're here to celebrate my 7th blogiversary! As always, I love celebrating this accomplishment by giving back to you guys. I'm happy to give away your choice of one (1) of the following books from my personal library as well as one (1) e-book of your choice up to $10 USD. These are two different giveaways with one separate winner for each prize.

Breakable by Tammara Webber
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater
This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
I Do by Jessica Simpson
Wait for Me by Rebecca St. James
Undead by Kristy McKay
Mending the Doctor's Heart by Tina Radcliffe
The Trial of Fallen Angels by James Kimmel Jr

Also don't forget to check out my Giveaway Policy (open internationally).

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't Wait for All Your Perfects

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

All Your Perfects

By: Colleen Hoover

Expected Publication: July 17th 2018 by Atria Books

320 pages

Genre: Adult, Contemporary

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--The #1 New York Times bestselling author of It Ends with Us--whose writing is "emotionally wrenching and utterly original" (Sarah Shepard, New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series)--delivers a tour de force novel about a troubled marriage and the one old forgotten promise that might be able to save it.

Quinn and Graham's perfect love is threatened by their imperfect marriage. The memories, mistakes, and secrets that they have built up over the years are now tearing them apart. The one thing that could save them might also be the very thing that pushes their marriage beyond the point of repair.

All Your Perfects is a profound novel about a damaged couple whose potential future hinges on promises made in the past. This is a heartbreaking page-turner that asks: Can a resounding love with a perfect beginning survive a lifetime between two imperfect people?

It's Colleen Hoover. Need I say more? What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

Reading and Blogging Preferences Survey

Hey guys! I've created a short survey about reading and blogging preferences. If there's any way that you have time to complete the survey, I'd greatly appreciate it! Thanks so much guys! Happy reading to you all!

The Heart's Appeal - Review

The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2)

By: Jennifer Delamere

Expected Publication: March 6th 2018 by Bethany House Publishers

368 pages

Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Amazon description--Strong-minded and independent Julia Bernay comes to London to study medicine and become a doctor--a profession that has only just opened up to women. She witnesses a serious accident, and through her quick actions saves the life of an ambitious young barrister named Michael Stephenson.

Coming from a family that long ago lost its money and its respectability, Michael Stephenson has achieved what many would have thought was impossible. Hard work and an aptitude for the law have enabled him to rise above his family's stigma and set him on the path to wealth and recognition. But his well-laid plans are upended when the accident brings Julia into his life.

Michael soon discovers he's met a woman every bit as stubborn and determined to make her mark on the world as he is. Sparks fly--but will they find common ground?

The Heart's Appeal is the second book in this series and my second read by Jennifer Delamere. In both books Jennifer Delamere has included aspects that I just don't find to be typical in the other books that I've read from the time period. In The Captain's Daughter Nate and Rosalyn work in the theater. And in The Heart's Appeal Julia is going to school in hopes of pursuing a career as a doctor. These just aren't entirely typical for the time period, although the culture was in the middle of making some big changes right along this time as well. Either way, I enjoyed reading something a bit different from what is expected of the time.

Julia has a pretty one track mind in the beginning of this book. Her thoughts are medical in nature almost all of the time. Even interactions that she has with complete strangers she was more intrigued with their medical needs than their personal story at times it seemed. Of course, she softens a bit and when I think about it, she did really care about the entire person and their needs not just the physical. It just didn't appear that way at first.

I won't say that Michael was hard to like, yet I've definitely found main characters easier to like than him for sure. His love for his family was one of the biggest attractions for him. Yet that was also one of his biggest weaknesses at the same time. I did appreciate his character growth and the path he took throughout the story.

Personally, I found myself questioning what it was about these two characters that drew them to each other so much in the beginning. Of course there was the life saving incident, but the actual tutoring should have been the biggest chemistry and relationship building part, yet I felt there was more "telling" than "showing" in this area. The two declared their feelings at a time when I wasn't sold. As time passed and the events toward the end of the book were actually more what ended up selling me on the couple but as I said, they'd already declared feelings at that point.

To that point Julia has a very strong faith in God which she doesn't hesitate to share with everyone she meets. I personally respected her for doing this, but I can see where some readers might find this annoying. Michael's opposition to God is something that I was surprised wasn't a bigger problem for Julia when it came to thinking about taking their relationship further.

I found the aspects of feminism within this book refreshing as to the true struggles of women during this time period when compared to the messages and struggles of today. That's all I'll say about that.

The Heart's Appeal was an enjoyable read. I had some questions about the depth of the relationship between Julia and Michael given their religious differences and the times the readers was shown that the two were together. I enjoyed the last portion of the book perhaps the best as things started to make more sense to me with the changes the characters were making within themselves that made their feelings and potential relationship make more sense. The Heart's Appeal gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read The Heart's Appeal? What did you think? Let me know!

Sunday Post & Stacking the Shelves- 3/4/18

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

First off, is there anyway that if you're reading this post that you might be interested in completing this survey for me about your blogging and reading preferences??? I'd really appreciate it. I've got some ideas that I'm pondering concerning my blog but I'd really like to find out the answer to some simple questions before I take any steps.

Also something kind of cool. I received my first ever unsolicited hardcopy review book in the mail from a major publisher. I truly never expected this day to come. Now I might just be one of very many here and not be special at all, but it feels pretty special to me. I've received physical review books before, but they've either been ones where I've requested them for review or the author/publisher has contacted me regarding my interest level before sending it to me.

Not much else to report. This week was pretty normal and uneventful. Baby Boy and I did have chiropractor appointments on Friday. We tried watching a movie with Little Girl Friday night but her attention span is still too short. Funny how she can sit for as long as we'll let her to watch kids' videos on YouTube, but sit her down for one continuous movie and she's got to get up and move. Oh well. We try not to encourage too much TV watching at her age anyway. Baby Boy was moved to his crib for night sleep Friday as well. It didn't go great as he woke at 1:30, 3:30, 4:30, and 6 am, but he'll have to get used to it as will we.

THIS PAST WEEK:

Monday: Review of This Tiny Perfect World by Lauren Gibaldi (2.5 Stars)
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Hero at the Fall (Rebel of the Sands, # 3) by Alwyn Hamilton

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: Review of The Heart's Appeal (London Beginnings, # 2) by Jennifer Delamere
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

Don’t forget to link up for the 2018 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2018 to sing up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Meet the Sky

By: McCall Hoyle

Publication: September 4th 2018 by Blink

256 pages

Genre: Young Adult

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--From award-winning author McCall Hoyle comes a new young adult novel, Meet the Sky, a story of love, letting go, and the unstoppable power of nature.

It all started with the accident. The one that caused Sophie’s dad to walk out of her life. The one that left Sophie’s older sister, Meredith, barely able to walk at all.

With nothing but pain in her past, all Sophie wants is to plan for the future—keep the family business running, get accepted to veterinary school, and protect her mom and sister from another disaster. But when a hurricane forms off the coast of North Carolina’s Outer Banks and heads right toward their island, Sophie realizes nature is one thing she can’t control.

After she gets separated from her family during the evacuation, Sophie finds herself trapped on the island with the last person she’d have chosen—the reckless and wild Finn Sanders, who broke her heart freshman year. As they struggle to find safety, Sophie learns that Finn has suffered his own heartbreak; but instead of playing it safe, Finn’s become the kind of guy who goes surfing in the eye of the hurricane. He may be the perfect person to remind Sophie how to embrace life again, but only if their newfound friendship can survive the storm.

Praise for McCall Hoyle’s debut novel, The Thing with Feathers:

“Beautiful, touching, and bursting with hope.”

Pintip Dunn, award-winning and New York Times bestselling author

“Heartfelt and affecting. Hoyle tells a familiar story, but does so in a voice that is rarely heard, and that makes all the difference.”

Leah Thomas, William C. Morris Award finalist and author of Because You’ll Never Meet Me and Nowhere Near You

“The inspiring story of one girl’s struggle not to be defined by her illness, The Thing with Feathers soars as it explores what it means to live—and love—without fear.”

Kathryn Holmes, author of How It Feels to Fly

“A refreshing, quality debut—meaningfully woven and beautifully engaging, from the first page to the last.”

YA Books Central (5 stars)

The Astonishing Color of After

By: Emily XR Pan

Publication: March 20th 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

480 pages

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Magic Realism

Source: Publisher (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.

Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she winds up chasing after ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents. And as she grieves, she must try to reconcile the fact that on the same day she kissed her best friend and longtime secret crush, Axel, her mother was taking her own life.

Alternating between real and magic, past and present, friendship and romance, hope and despair, The Astonishing Color of After is a novel about finding oneself through family history, art, grief, and love.

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!